Slimming World's response to the World Health Organisation's new guideline on the use of non-sugar sweeteners in weight management
The World Health Organisation (WHO) have this week announced a conditional recommendation that non-sugar sweeteners aren’t used as a means of achieving weight control. Slimming World is aware that this may cause confusion and concern, especially as the guideline mentions a lack of evidence that sweeteners support long-term weight control and their potential link to increased health risk.
Slimming World’s Head of Nutrition, Research and Health, Carolyn Pallister said: “It’s important that the new WHO guidance isn’t misinterpreted as suggesting that sweeteners are unsafe and don’t help with weight control. It’s also possible that messages may suggest that guidelines have changed meaning sweeteners are not recommended for use in the UK and Ireland. And this is not the case.
“At Slimming World, we base our guidance on the latest UK government recommendations on diet and health, plus the equivalent guidance in Ireland and Cyprus. This also includes latest guidance on the safety of sweeteners from European food safety authorities. At present there have been no changes made to healthy eating advice to suggest any health and safety concerns about permitted non-sugar sweeteners.
“Our in-house team of nutritionists, dieticians and researchers, along with our panel of expert scientific advisors, research partners and advisory bodies actively monitor developments across all aspects of food and nutrition. Should there be any changes to the recommendations regarding the safety of and approval of use of sweeteners by UK and European health bodies we would immediately advise our Consultants and members and adapt our guidance and resources accordingly.
“We understand that losing weight is a long-term challenge for many people, and so support members to adopt new healthier habits and feel in control of their food choices. Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan helps members limit the amount of sugar they consume in line with current healthy eating recommendations, and our research shows that Slimming World members consume less energy (calories) from sugar than the average UK female (7.1% vs 11.3%).*
Food Optimising is designed to give our members huge flexibility to incorporate their own preferences and requirements into their diet while losing weight.
“To help make swaps away from high-sugar foods, some members choose to use non-sugar sweeteners to maintain the sweet taste of food and drinks, often as a stepping stone towards not adding sugar and sweetener to food and drink at all as their tastes change.
“Should members choose to avoid sweeteners altogether, they can easily do that while following our plan, which is designed to give them huge flexibility to incorporate their own preferences and requirements into their diet while losing weight.
“There is plenty of data from short term studies that show substituting sweeteners for sugar is linked to effective calorie reduction and weight loss. We’re confident that whether our members are replacing sugar with a lower or no calorie sweetener as part of our Food Optimising plan or choosing to step away from adding sugar and sweetener to food and drink altogether, both will be helping them to reduce their energy (calorie) intake, which will be supporting their weight loss in a safe way, and enabling them to live healthier, happier lives.”